Apparatus for making spiders for electric lamps



Jan. 18, 1949, J. FLAWS, JR 2,459,513

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPIDERS FOR ELECTRIC LAMP.

Filod- June 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l lnven torz John Haws JT.,

His Ai' bovneg.

Jan. 18, 1949.

J. FLAWS, JR

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEIDER-S FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJune 4, 1946- lnvervlror'. John FLaws Jr. .10 m HIS A tio Patented Jan.18, 1949 APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPIDERS FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS John Flaws,Jr., East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Application June 4, 1946, Serial No. 674,337

16 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for making the filament supportingspiders of incandescent lamps, and more particularly to apparatus formaking a spider on a stem for such lamps by forming buttons in avitreous arbor extending therefrom and then inserting support wires insaid buttons.

Certain rough service and higher voltage incandescent lamps, as well asmany other lamps, require a spider with a multiplicity of support Wiresfor properly holding the filament where a very rugged or positivesupport must be provided or a longer more complex filament must besupported. In such cases, it is usually preferable that the filament beheld by a spider formed by support wires extending radially from aplurality of buttons in a centrally disposed arbor within the lamp andthat said support wires and buttons be spaced at intervals along thelength of the arbor. The manufacture of such spiders is particularlydifficult because of the complexity of the spider and of the operationsnecessary to form buttons along the length of the arbor. Prior to myinvention, it was thought spiders of this type could be made inautomatic apparatus only when the arbor was formed from a glass cane rodand not from a glass tube which permits more simplified stemmanufacture.

One object of my invention is to provide automatic apparatus for makingaccurately formed spiders for incandescent lamps, the apparatus andsupport wires by the apparatus for making them. i

Still another object of my invention is to provide automaticallyoperated apparatus for making a spider on a vitreous tubular arborextending from a lamp stem, the apparatus being characterized by meansfor preserving the opening through the full length of the arbor duringthe formation of a plurality of buttons along its length. The use of atubular arbor permits a more simplified stem makin procedure butpresents difficulties in a multiple button spider in that 2 air must notbe trapped in the arbor. Any air trapped within the spider arbor wouldbe slowly dissipated into the lamp bulb and would result in materiallyreducing the efficiency and shortening the life thereof.

Still other objects and advantages of my apparatus will appear in thefollowing detailed description of the species thereof shown in thedrawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of the series of workstations through which the lamp stem is conveyed in the course of themaking of a spider; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of lamp stems in varioussteps in the making of the spider; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thearborupsetting and the inserting apparatus at the work station indicatedat B, Fig. 1, with a stem held in operative relation thereto by the headof a conveyor which carries said stem to each of the work stations; Fig.4 is a plan view of the movable arbor-holding jaw assembly of theconveyor head; Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the movablejaw-supporting bracket along line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a sideelevation of the movable jaw-positioning means in the course ofadjusting the jaw-supporting bracket.

The species of my apparatus shown in the drawing performs its spidermaking operations at the work stations of a series through which lampstems l are advanced in regular indexing motions in very much the samemanner as disclosed in my United States Patent 1,907,532. The lamp stemI is supported by a head 2, shown in detail in Fig. 3, which ispreferably representative of one of the heads of a conveyor like thatdisclosed in my aforesaid patent and which is, when presented at eachwork station, adapted to position said stem properly at operativerelation to the spider making apparatus thereat.

As shown in Fig. 3 the lamp stem l is gripped and supported through thejaws 3 and 4 which engage the exhaust tube 5, and the jaws B, 1 and 8, 9which engage portions of the tubular arbor 10. Of the exhaust tubeengaging jaws 3 and 4, jaw 3 is a stationary member attached to sleeve 1I which, in turn, is gripped and held by a portion of the conveyorbracket l2, and jaw 4 is a movable member pivoting on said sleeve H andactuated through the upstanding post 13 which engages spring l4 and thearm 5. The bracket l2, as disclosed in my patent hereinbefore referredto, provides the means of supporting and advancing the complete conveyorhead 2, the jaws 3 and 4 of which are caused to grip and hold the stem lby the uncoiling pressure of the spring i4 against post IS. The spring54 also engages the stud 16 extending from the jaw 3 and is madeineffective, when it is desired to open the jaws 3 and 4, by means (notshown) engaging and rotating arm which is fastened to shaft l1 pivotedwithin theisleeve l l.

The arbor-holding jaws 6, l and 8, '9, which are very similarlyconstructed, have the additional function of aligning the stem I and thearbor lfl within the head 2 during the various .steps in the making ofthe spider and are disposed vertically of each other so as to engage.the portion of said arbor Hi directly adjacent the .stem press it andan end portion of said arbor I0, respectively. A comparison can be madewith the lower jaws 8 and 9 (Fig. 4) for a more detaileddisclosure ofthe shape and operating means of the jaws 6 and l, which jaws 6 and "Iengage the arbor it through the tip portions 19 and 20 and which pivotabout the post 12! extending downwardly from the bracket .22. The jaws.6 .and l grip the arbor i=9 with the pressure exerted by the torsionspring 23 which .is located about a second post 24 extending downwardlyfrom the bracket22 and which :exerts its influence therein through .the:lever .25, pin .25 .and links 2.! and .23. Collars (not shown) upon theposts 2! and .24 prevent verticalmovement of the jaws .6 and 1 since thebracket .22 is clamped tightly to the sleeve H .and is not capable ofmovement. The lower :arbor holding ,jaws 8 and 9 (Figs. '3, 4 and 5)which engage the .arbor .10 through the tip portions .ZS-andSB arepivoted on the bushing 3! on ;a lower portion of the post 24 and areunder the control of the lever .32 which is mounted on a bushing .33 ona lower portion-of post 24 and is connected thereto through the pin 34,links .35 and 36 and pins 31 and 38. A torsion spring 39 surrounding aportion of the .lever 32 andengagingrsaid lever 32 and post 40influences said lever .32 :so that the jaws -8 and 9 grip the arbor ill.The jaws 8 and 9 and the actuating means therefore @form acsingle unitmounted on the bracket Jl-l inasmuch as bushings .31 and 33 are bothpress fitted into openings in the bracket 41. Therlower extremities ofthe posts .2! and 24 which are engaged bythe bushings .31 .and 33,respectively, are reduced in section as .shown in Fig. 4 to reduce theiri-ction betweenthese parts and prevent binding thereof during thechanges in temperature and consequent expansion and contraction thereof.

Vertical .adj ustmentrof the lower arbor-holding jaw assembly and,accordingly, of jaws .8 and 9 does not take place .until midway in :themaking :of the spider and the assembly remains at a fixed position onthe posts 24 :and 24 due to the engagement .of the friction block 42(Fig. 5) carried within a passage in bracket "4'! with post .2l. Thevfriction bl'ock42 is pressed against the post 2i by the expansionforce'of the spring 43 and extends through an opening in the bushing 3i.The relative :positions of .allxparts of the conveyor head 2 andthe=stem J as they appear in Fig. 3 .are the positions of these parts atthe start of the cycle of operations .of my spider making apparatus. Incertain instances, it may .be @desirable that the stem l be received .bythe conveyor head 2 directly from steminaking apparatus, Whereas inother instances, the-conveyor head 2 maybe a part of the stem makingapparatus and may .bring the stem 1 into operative relation of my spidermaking apparatus in the regular course of its movement.

burners 44 and :45 directedragainst a restricted length of the arbor lladjacent the jaws 8 and l. The effect of the flames is to soften a verylimited portion of the arbor ill to a plastic and workable condition.The lower arbor-holding jaws 8 and *9 keep the end portion of the arborHi from sagging or otherwise-.moving from alignment and position .inthe, conveyor head 2 during the present interval of operation.

Succeeding operations of my apparatus occur at station B, the next workstation taken by the conveyor head 2, wherein the plastic portion of thearbor I0 is upset to form an enlargement or button 46KB, Fig. 2) andthen is impaled by a plurality of support wires 41 to afifix said wires4?! thereto. Thelupsetting operation results from an upward movement ofthe rod 48 (Figs. 2 and 3) firom a position below the course of travelof the stem ,1 and almost wholly within the head 49 of the insertingapparatus and first carries the pointed mandrel 50 on the upper end ofthe rod 48 "through the ;open end of the arbor Hi to a position withinthe plastic portion. The continuing movement of the rod '48 causes thecapped end 5:! 20f :the .rod 48 to butt against the end of the arbor illand push the end portion within .the jaws -.8 and 9 up through said jaws8 .and .9 .sufiiciently .to upset the plastic portion into the button 46shown. Thepointed mandrel 5.0 functions both :to prevent the closing on"of the opening through the arbor l6 adjacent the button 46 and vtoassist in holding and retaining I inalignment that portion of the arborIll beyond the support wires 41 to the button 46 by means of a pluralityof rams 52 extending radially about the head 49. "The rams 52 are spacedat sixty degree intervals about -.one side of the arbor l0 and are:moved from horizontal to vertical positions about pivots (not shown)within the head 49 0f the apparatus'by manipulation of the bars:Operation of rod 48 and the bars 53 is brought about by means (notshown) in combination with similar :means for actuatingthe conveyor :andother parts of the machine and is of well known construction .Onepreformed support wire 41 ;is inserted into the :button 46 by each ram52 which carries said wire 41 within *V notches in end .fianges and'which grips it with the pressure exerted :by the block 54. The wirerods 55 on cpposite sides of the ram 52 permit the support-wire-holdingblocks '54 to .be moved within the end flanges of the ram 52 to grip orrelease the support wires 41 as desired. When the insertion operation,which places support Wires '4'! in "the Vertical plane of each ram 52and perpendicular to the extent of the arbor id, is.completedytheholding blocks 54 are separated from the .support wires 41sufficientlyto clear the free end and pig-tail thereof and are swung outand down .to their former position. The rod 48 and mandrel .50 .are thenlowered from con- .tact with the arbor in freeing the stem I of allapparatus permanently located at stationB and completing the cycle ofoperations of the apparatus at said work station.

The immediately succeeding group of four work stations are occupied byapparatus essentially like that in the group of four work stations justdescribed and. provide for the formation of a second button 56 (D, Fig.2) and the insertion of other support wires 5'! in said second button 56in a manner of operation duplicating that performed by said apparatus.The button 56 in this instance is formed in an intermediate portion ofthe arbor I I! which is first heated by flames from the burners 58 and59 (C, Fig. 2) at the three stations indicated at C, Fig. 1, and whichis then upset into said button 56 and impaled by the support wires 51 atthe station indicated at D, Figs. 1 and 2. A pointed mandreliifl isintroduced into the end of the arbor III to a position within the heatedplastic portion during the upsetting operation to prevent the passagetherethrough from closing off. In this instance the upsetting operationis performed by the upward movement of rod 6| which functions as thesupport for the mandrel B0 and which slides the lower end portion of thearbor I0 up in the jaws 8 and 9. The length of the mandrel 69 is suchthat its pointed end is properly positioned when the rod 61 is inoperative relation to the end of the arbor II]. The insertion of thesupport wires 51 is performed by the rams 62 which are provided insufiicient number and at positions to cause support wires 51 to beinserted at sixty degree intervals about the full periphery of thebutton 56.

The particular spider being made in the present instance requires thatstill another operation be performed on the arbor ID. However, the jawsB and 9 are located at a position along the end portion of the arbor IIIwhich would cause themto interfere and function improperly in suchoperation. The two upsetting operations which have taken place atstations B and D have shortened the arbor I 0 to such an extent that thejaws 8 and 9 lie relatively near the end thereof so that it becomesdesirable to move said jaws 8 and 9 up along the arbor ID to theposition they appear in G, Fig. 2. This repositioning operation takesplace at station E where the push rod 65 (Figs. 1 and 6) is raised upagainst the roller 65 on the arm 6'! extending from the bracket 4! oftheconveyor head I and is caused to push said bracket M and the jawassembly compris ing jaws B and 9 up on the posts 2| and 24 as permittedby the friction block 42. The push rod 65 is actuated through the link68 and lever 69 and takes a motion within portion of the stationaryframe in which it is held determined by the change in contour of theportion of the cam 'II engaged by the roller I2 on the end of lever 69.The spring I3 which also extends from a portion of the frame (not shown)biases the lever 69 so that the roller I2 follows all changes in theperiphery of the cam II which, in turn, is preferably rotated by thesame mechanism actuating the conveyor so as to be in synchronismtherewith. An adjustable end portion I4 of the push rod which can bescrewed in or out. permits the length of said rod 65 and the effectivelength of movement transferred to the jaw assembly to be adjusted.

The succeeding operations performed on the stem I are again those ofheating and upsetting a portion of the arbor I0 and the inserting ofsupport wires therein which operations occur during the movement of thestem III through 6 the four stations indicated at F and G (Fig. .1). Inthis particular instance the end of the arbor I II is heated by burnersI5 and I6 on opposite sides of the first three stations (F) in themanner of previous. heating operations. The upsetting andinsertingoperations occur at station G and are introduced by an upwardmotion of the rod TI (G, Fig. 2.). which rod TI first advances thepointed mandrel I8 into the end of the arbor if] and then engages andpushes against said end sufiiciently to upset it into the button 19.Rams 80, which are disposed radially about the rod 17, swing up fromtheirpositions on the inserting head 8| to impale the ends of thesupport wires 82 into the button "I9 thereby completing themanufacturing operations of the apparatusand the manufacture of thespider. The indexing movement of the stem I and conveyor head 2 fromstation G occurs after the withdrawal of the rod I? from engagement withthe button I9 and the rams 89 from the support wires 82. I

The stem I which now supports a complete spider is removed from theconveyor head 2 at station H (Fig. l), the next in its course ofmovement, and in moving to said station prepares for said operation bycausing the arbor-holding jaws 6, I and 8, 9 to open. The indexingmovement carries the rollers 83 and 84, (Figs. 3 and 4) on the jawactuating levers 125 and 32 against the stationary cam 85 whichiswcontoured so as to cause said levers 25 and 32 to be moved. againstthe resistance provided by the springs 23 and. 39 respectively andseparatesaid jaws 6, I and 8, 9. The cam 85 is mounted on the frame (notshown) of the machine adjacent station H and continues to engage therollers 83 and 84 and to hold thejaws 6, land 8, 9 in the open positionwhile the head 2 Eat said station. The stem I is finally released fromthe conveyor head 2 at station H by an adjustment of the arm I5 (Fig. 3)which causes the jaws 3, and 4 to separate. The adjustment to arm I5 ismade by a rotation of the arm 86 (Fig. 1) about the pivot pin 81extending from the frame (not shown) of the machine which motion carriessaid arm 86 into engagement with arm I5 and is similar to that ofcorresponding apparatus in combination. with the conveyor disclosed inmy United States patent hereinbefore referred to.

The stem I now has integral therewith a spider comprised of a tubulararbor III with three spaced enlargements or buttons 46, 56 and I9alongits length and definitely placed groups of support wires 41, 51 and 82respectively extending from said enlargements or buttons. In the courseof other usual lamp manufacturin operations the spider will support afilament which will be draped about the support wires 41, 51 and82 andwill be placed in an exhausted or gas filled bulb or envelope which willcause the complete length of the arbor ID to be exhausted .or gasfilled.

Before the conveyor head I is again brought into operative relation tothe apparatus described. in a succeeding cycle of operation, it iscaused to take work station I where the lower arbor holding jaws 8 and 9are adjustedvertically to another position and another work station (notshown) where a stem I is placed therein. The adjustment of the lowerarbor-holding jaws 8 and 9 is made by the lever 88 which is turned aboutthe pin 89 held by the frame (notshown) so as to be brought intoengagement with the top of the roller 66 (Fig. 3) on bracket 4| andthrough still further movement caused to lower said bracket 4I down onposts 2| and 24, The extent of this adjustment establishes the positiontaken by the jaws '8 and 9 along the arbor H1: at the start of the cycleof operation and is determined by the proportions of the particularspider being manufactured. Various different adjustments of the positionof the lower arbor-holding jaws. 8 and 9 may be made at station I andduring the formation of the spider, in this particular instance takingplace: at station E, inv order to'permit the apparatus to make"differently constructed spiders. The stem I is introduced into theconveyor head 2at some station (not shown) where jaw openin apparatuscorresponding to the cam 85- and the arm 86 at station H are provided.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited- States is:

1. Apparatus for forming a spider on avitreous arbor extending from astem comprising a head having jaws for gripping and supporting a stemand having movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to saidfirst-mentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of anarbor extending from the stem, burners and means for heating and thenupsetting a. portion of the arbor to form a button, means engaging thehead for adjusting the position of the movable jaws with respect to thesaid first-mentioned jaws to reposition said movable jaws along thearbor, and means for heating and thereafter upsetting another portion ofthe arbor to form a button, and means mounting said head. and saidburners and upsetting means for bringing them into operativerelationship.

2. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extending from astem comprising a con"- veyor head adapted to move to a series of workstations, said head having jaws for gripping and supporting a stem andhaving movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to said first-men"tioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of an arborextending from the stem, burners and means positioned at workstationsfor heating and then upsetting a portion of the arbor to form a button,means engaging the head at another work station for adjusting the. position of the movable jaws with respect to the other jaws of the head toreposition said. movable jaws along the arbor, and means positioned atstill other work stations for heating and up setting another portion ofthe arbor to form a button.

3. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extending from astem comprising a conveyor head adaptedv to move to a series of workstations, said head having jaws for gripping; and supporting a stem andhaving movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to saidfirst-mentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of anarbor extending from the stem, burners positioned at a work station.forheating a restricted intermediate length of the arbor, means locatedat a workstation and engaging. the end of the arbor for moving theunheated end portion held by the movable jaws longitudinallytherethrough to cause the heated portion to be upset into the form of abutton, means engaging the head at another work station for adjustingthe position of the movable jaws with respectto the other jaws of thehead to reposition said movable jaws along the arbor, and meanspositioned at still other work stations for heating and upsettinganother portion of the arbor to form a button.

4. Apparatus for forming a spider on a viterous arbor extending from astem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of workstations, said head having'jaws for gripping and supporting a stem andhaving movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to saidfirst-mentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of anarbor extending from the stem, burners and means positioned at workstations for heating and upsetting a portion of the arbor to form abutton and for immediately thereafter, while the button remains plastic,inserting support wires therein, means engaging the head at anothervwork station for adjusting the position of the movable jaws with respectto the other jaws of the head to reposition said movable jaws along thearbor, and means positioned at still other work stations for heating andupsetting another portion of the arbor to form a button, and forimmediately thereafter, while the button remains plastic, insertingsupport wires therein.

5. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extending from astem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of workstations, said head having jaws for gripping both a stem and an arborextending therefrom to support and properly align said stem and arbortherein and having movable jaws separated from the arbor holding jawsand readily adjustable with respect thereto for holding an end portionof the arbor, burners and means positioned at work stations for heatingand then upsetting a portion of the arbor to form a button, meansengaging the head at another work station for adjusting the position ofthe movable jaws with respect to the other jaws of the head toreposition said movable jaws along the arbor, and means positioned atstill other work stations for heating and upsetting another portion ofthe arbor to form a button.

6. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extending from astem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of workstations, comprised of jaws for holding and positioning a stern,supporting means for the jaws having a post extending therefrom, movablejaws slidably mounted on the post for gripping the end portion of anarbor extending from the stem and frictional'means engaging the post andthe movable jaws to cause the movable jaws to remain at a position takenalong said post, burners and means positioned at work stations forheating and then upsetting a portion of the arbor to form a button,means at another Work station for adjusting the position of the movablejaws along the post to slide and reposition said movable jaws along. thearbor, and means positioned at still other work stations for heating andupsetting another portion of the arbor to form a button.

7. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extendin from astem comprising a conveyor head, adapted to move to a series of workstations, comprised of a pair of. jaws for gripping and supporting. astem, sup-port means for the jaws having two posts extending therefrom,an assembly slidably mounted on the posts having a bracket engaging saidposts, having a pair. of jaws mounted thereon for holding and aligningan end portion of the arbor within the head and having frictional meanscarried by the bracket and engaging one of said posts for causing theassembly to remain at a position taken along said. posts, burners andmeans positioned at work stations for heating and then upsetting aportion of the arbor to form a button, means at another. work. stationengaging the bracket or the movable assembly tor adjustingthe positionthereof along the posts to reposition the second movable jaws along thearbor, and means positioned at still other work stations for heating andupsetting anotherportion of the arbor to form a button.

8. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extending from astem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of workstations, said head having jaws for gripping and supporting a stem andhaving movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to saidfirstmentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of anarbor extending from the stem, burners and means positioned at workstations for heating and then upsetting separated portions of the arborto form buttons at intervals along the length thereof, means engagingthe head at another work station for adjusting the position of themovable jaws with respect to the other jaws of the head to repositionsaid movable jaws along the arbor, and means positioned at still otherwork stations for heating and upsetting another portion of the arbortoform a button.

9. Apparatus for forming a spider on a vitreous arbor extending from astem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series of workstations, said head havin jaws for gripping both a stern and an arborextending therefrom to support and properly align said stem and arbortherein and having movable jaws separat ed from the arbor-holding jawsand readily adjustable with respect thereto for holding an end portionof the arbor, burners and means positioned at work stations for heatingand then upsetting separated portions of the arbor to form buttons alongthe length thereof, means engaging the head at another work station foradjusting the position of the movable jaws with respect to the otherjaws of the head to reposition said movable jaws along the arbor andmeans positioned at still other work stations for heating and upsettinganother portion of the arbor to form a button.

10. Apparatus for forming a spider on a tubular vitreous arborextending, from a stem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to aseries of work stations, said head having jaws for gripping andsupportinga stem and having movable jaws readily adjustable with respectto said first-mentioned jaws for holding and psitioning an end portionof a tubular arbor extending from the stem, burners at a work stationfor heating a restricted intermediate length of the arbor, means locatedat a work station for moving the unheated end portion of said arborlongitudinally to upset the heated portion thereof into a button, amandrel in combination with the last mentioned means movable through theopen end of the arbor and into the heated portion thereof during theupsetting to preserve an opening therethrough, means for moving themandrel to and from operative relation to the arbor, means engaging thehead at another station for adjusting the position of the movable jawsalon the arbor, means positioned at still other work stations forheating and upsetting another portion of the arbor to form a button, andmeans in combination with the lastmen tioned means for preserving anopening through the arbor during the upsetting operation thereof.

11. Apparatus for forming a spider on a tubular vitreous arbor extendingfrom a stem comprisin a conveyor head adapted to move to a series ofwork stations, said head having jaws tion with the last-mentioned meansmovable through the open end of the arbor and into the heated portionthereof during the upsetting to preserve an opening therethrough, meansfor moving the mandrel to and from operative relation to the arbor,means positioned at other work stations for heating and upsetting an endportion of the arbor to form a button, a second short mandrel incombination with the lastmentioned means movable through the open end ofthe arbor and into the heated portion during the upsettin to preserve anopening therethrough, means for moving the shorter mandrel to and fromoperative relation to the arbor, means engaging the head at anotherstation for adjusting the position of the movable jaws along the arbor,means positioned at still other Work stations for heating and upsettinganother portion of the arbor to form a button, and means in combinationwith the last-mentioned means for preserving an opening through thearbor during the upsetting operation thereof.

' 12. Apparatus for forming a spider on a tubular vitreous arborextending from a stem comprisin a conveyor head adapted to move to aseries of work stations, said head having jaws for first-mentioned jawsfor holding and positioning an end portion of a tubular arbor extendingfrom the stem, burners at a work station for heating a restrictedintermediate length of the arbor, a movable rod located at a workstation for butting against the end of the arbor and pushing theunheated end portion longitudinally through the movable jaws toupset theheated portion into a button, a mandrel mounted on the end of the rodand moved through the open end of the arbor and into the heated portionby the upsetting movement of the rod to preserve an openingtherethrough, means engaging the head at another station for adjustingthe position of the movable jaws along the arbor, means positioned atstill other work stations for heating and upsetting another portion ofthe arbor to form a button, and means in combination withthelastmentioned means for preserving an opening through the arbor duringthe upsetting operation thereof.

13. Apparatus for forming a spider on a tubular vitreous arbor extendingfrom a stem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series ofwork stations, said head having jaws for gripping and supporting a stemand havin movable jaws readily adjustable with respect to the unheatedend portion longitudinally through the movable jaws to upset the heatedportion into a button, a mandrel mounted on the end of the rod and movedthrough the open end of the arbor arse-me and intothe heated" portion bythe upsetting movements of" the rodto preserve an opening therethrough,means engaging the head at another stationfor adjusting the position; ofthe movable"- jaws along the arbor, burners located at another stationfor heating an end portion of the arbor; a second movablerodlocatedat awork station for pushing against the end of the arbor to upset theheated portion intoa button, and a second short mandrel mounted onthe'end' of the second rod-and moved" intothe open end of the arbor andinto the heated portion by the-upsetting motion ofsai'cl' second rod topreserve an opening through the arbor and button.

14; Apparatus for'fol'minga spider-on a-tubularvitreous arbor extendingfrom a stem comprising a conveyor head adapted to move to a series ofwork stations, said head having jaws forgrippingand supporting a stemand having movablejawsreadily adjustable with respect to saidfirst-mentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portion of atubular arbor extending from the stem, burners at a work station forheating a restricted intermediate length of the arbor, a movabl'e rodlocated at a workstationfor-butting against the end of the arbor andpushing the unheated end portion longitudinally through the movable jawsto upset theheated portion into a button, a mandrel mounted on the endof the rod and moved through the open end of the arbor and into-theheated portion by the upsetting movements of the rod topreserve anopening therethrough; a plurality of movable rams radially disposedabout the movable rod for inserting a plurality of support Wires in thebuttondireotly after theformation thereof 'while it"remains' heatedandis: still plastic; means engaging thehead at another station foradjusting the positionofthe movable jaws along thearbor,burners-lbeated'atanother'station for heating an endp'ortion of thearbor, a second movable rod located at awork' station for pushingagainst the end of the arbor'to upset the heated portion into abutton, asecond' s-hort mandrel mounted' 0n the end: of the second rod and movedinto the open end" of the arbor and into the heated portion thereof. bythe upsettingmotion of said. second rod to preserve an opening throughthe arbor andbutton', and a pluralityofmovable rams radiallydisposedabout the second: rodfor insertin i a; plurality'of: support wires inthelastementioned button directly aftentheformatiorr thereof while it,remains :heated andplastim 15., Apparatus for forming aispider'. on-ahollow vitreous arbor: extending from a stem; comprising a conveyor:head; adapted to move to a series of work stations, said head havingjaws for grip:- ping and. supporting a stem, and having movable jaws:readily adjustable with respect to said firstmentioned jaws for. holdingand positioning: an end portion of a tubular arbor extending from thestem, means in each of succeeding groups of. work stations for' heating,upsetting; and then inserting support wires in portions of the arbor,themeans ineach succeeding group engaging a portion ofthe arbor locatedprogressively nearer the end thereof, and having additional meanspreserving the opening through the arbor during the upsetting operationand comprised in each instance in. burners for heating a restrictedlongitudinal portion of. the arbor, a rod for pushing against the end ofthe arbor to upset the heated portion into a button, a mandrel mountedon the end of the rod and moved into the open end andv heated portion ofthe arbor by the movements thereof for preserving an opening through thebuttonv and a plurality of movable rams radially disposed about the rodfor inserting a plurality of support wires in the button directly afterthe formation thereof while it remains plastic; and: means engaging thehead prior to its: movement through the last-mentioned group of stationsfor adjusting the position of the movable jawswith respect to the otherjaws thereof to: reposition saidv movable jaws along the arbor andcause: the proper function thereof during subsequent-operations of themeans-in said group.

16:; Apparatus for forming a spider on. a vitreous arborextending;from-a stem comprising a head having. jaws for" gripping and supportingthe stem and also having; movable jaws readily adjustable with respectto the first-mentioned jaws for holding and positioning an end portionat the-arbor, means for successively heating and upsettinglongitudinally spaced portions of the arbor, and, means mounting saidmovable jaws for movement; relative to said first-mentioned jaws toreposition said movable jaws along the arbor during an interval betweenthe successive operations of said heating and upsetting means.

JOHN FLAWS, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,663,550 Higgins Mar. 27, 19281,698,321 Sta-udenmeier et a1. Jan. 8, 1929 1,907,532 Flaws May 9, 1933

